A US-based diamond merchant is battling for life in a hospital after being thrashed with a baseball bat when he tried to play peacemaker between two motorists following a road accident,police said today.

The NRI victim,Sanjay Jaiswal (35),who was admitted to the ICU of Nanavati Hospital,is in critical condition,police said.

The accused Indrajit Sawant (35),a manager in a private firm,has been arrested on the charge of attempt to murder and remanded in police custody till June 12.

According to police,on Wednesday evening,Rishi Gandhi,an executive with a private company,had gone to collect his Maruti car from a service centre in Kalina. As his car came out of the lane,it collided with a Chevrolet Optra being driven by Sawant.

Furious Sawant barged out of his car with a baseball bat and smashed windscreen of Maruti car before assaulting Gandhi.

Jaiswal,who was on evening walk,saw the commotion and tried to save Gandhi from being beaten up by Sawant. After a while,Sawant hit Jaiswal on his head with the baseball bat.